Germany wins right to host Euro 2024

Published September 28, 2018
Head of Germany’s bid to host the Euro 2024 Philipp Lahm (L) and former German international football player Celia Sasic pose with the UEFA trophy after the Germany was awarded hosting rights for the Euro 2024. —AFP
Head of Germany’s bid to host the Euro 2024 Philipp Lahm (L) and former German international football player Celia Sasic pose with the UEFA trophy after the Germany was awarded hosting rights for the Euro 2024. —AFP

NYON: Germany will host the Euro 2024 football tournament after beating the only other bidders Turkey in a two-horse contest on Thursday.

Germany, which previously staged the event as West Germany in 1988 and successfully held the 2006 World Cup, won the vote among UEFA’s executive committee after a four-year campaign which, for the first time, featured human rights as one of the specific bid criteria.

The decision, announced by UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, was a bitter disappointment for Turkey who also failed with bids to host the 2008, 2012 and 2016 tournaments.

“The procedure was transparent, the vote was democratic. Every democratic decision is the right decision,” Ceferin said.

The vote was a big boost for the troubled German FA which has had to deal with a poor World Cup performance, falling ticket sales for international matches and midfielder Mesut Ozil’s decision to quit the German team, citing racism and disrespect over his Turkish roots.

“We have amazing stadiums, fans who love football, first and foremost we have people who love celebrating with other Europeans,” said former Germany captain Philipp Lahm, an ambassador for the German bid.

“We will organise a huge football party in Germany,” he added.

Germany plans to stage the tournament in 10 cities - Berlin, Munich, Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen, Stuttgart, Hamburg, Duesseldorf, Cologne, Leipzig and Frankfurt.

“We all still have the images and emotions of 2006 very vividly in our memory,” Bundesliga President Reinhard Rauball said.

“We look forward to another major international event in our country. Euro 2004 will fascinate people with our sport, both in Germany and well beyond it.” The decision came at a bad time for Turkey which, after years of breakneck growth, is in crisis, its heavy foreign debt load increased by the Turkish liras 40 percent slide this year.

Turkey’s human rights record has also been under scrutiny since an attempted coup in July, 2016.

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.